Monday, March 31, 2014

I promised myself that this weekend I would not do work stuff. I mostly kept my word and instead dyed lots of fiber, made some yummy treats for the class I'm teaching tonight, and taught my youngest how to finger knit. She caught on right away and soon she had taught her big brother how to do it. So far she has made herself a scarf and a bracelet, with plans for a blanket in the works.

I just might have to learn to spin some of this wool, to keep her supplied with yarn.

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Some medium-sized stones have cropped up on my worktable. Larger than an art-o-mat stone but smaller than my larger stones. Middlin's.

I haven't decided yet if these will become grab bag stones, go into the Sales Gallery where I work to benefit our non-profit, or something else. In the meantime I'll keep adding to the pile and we'll see what happens.

Friday, March 21, 2014

I finished a stone yesterday for my project. I had high hopes of having all of my stones completed by now but then life tangled my yarn and I had to focus on other things. I'm not going to set an official deadline for myself, lest that tempt fate to throw more tangles my way, but for those of you who have been patiently waiting for me to stitch your stones, work is underway.

Today's stone came to me all the way from Greece where Ariadne gathered it from the beach at the foot of the the Olympus mountains. The thought of the water guided me in the color choice for the wool and the idea of grecian ruins and the lovely bits of sea finds that Ariadne incorporates into her own work led me to add random stitches and clay beads.

I hope the stone captures a bit of what you experienced while gathering it, Ariadne. Thank you for sending it to me.

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

I've been in my new job for almost a month now and I'm still learning so much my head is abuzz at the end of each day. Sitting and stitching on a stone helps focus me on the small thing in my hands and away from all of the open questions and tasks left undone.

It might be avoidance, to some degree, but perhaps also self-preservation. It is a loving thing to give yourself some of your own time and to nurture those things that make you happy. Even if those things are as small and quiet as a stone.

Sunday, March 09, 2014

Clearly I'm on a roll. I managed to finish another stone this weekend, in between taking my kids to a puppetry workshop and watching the second Hunger Games movie. I guess I really needed my stitchy time.

Saturday, March 08, 2014

Last night I found myself needing some serious stitching time. I needed to clear my head and "check out" for a little bit so I sat at the kitchen table in the dark with my trusty old gooseneck lamp and worked until way past my bedtime.

A mound of french knots and tiny glass beads surround a cluster of coral. Edges creep outward, growing, reaching new ground.

Monday, March 03, 2014

All done! 10 wet-felted wool flower brooches completed. I'll be submitting these to the committee at The Crossing Arts Alliance where I work to see if they'd be a good fit for the Sales and Gift gallery. It would be fun to have some of my work in there.

This one has a clay bead center made by my talented friend Haddie.

Speaking of my work...I started a Pinterest page for The Crossing and need more artsy souls to follow. If you're a pinner, let me know either by following me over there or by leaving me a comment here with your profile. I'd love to connect with you there.